Bed-rail fastener



ll' r Dec. 18 192 3.

A. s. PUTNAM BED RAIL FASTENER Filed Aug. 50.

1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 18 1923. 4

A. s. PUTNAM BED RAIL FASTENER File d Aug. 50 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR! Patented Dec. 18, 1%23.

UNHTED fi al g ALEXANDER S. PUTNAM, DE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

BED-RAIL rns'rnnnn.

Application filed August 30, 1921. Serial No. 496,904.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER S. PUT- NAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in a Bed-Rail Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to bed frames, and more particularly to a fastener or locking device between the ends of side rails of the bed frame and the corner posts, the principal objects of my invention being to provide a relatively simple, practical and efficient fastening device that may be easily and cheaply produced and which will be effective in rigidly connecting the side rails of the bed frame to the corner posts without the use of screws, bolts or like fastening devices, and further to provide a device of the character referred to whereby the side rails of the bed frame may be firmly attached to the bed posts with either side uppermost, thereby providing what is commonly known as a reversible rail and which latter in either one of its positions is self-tightening.

A further object of my invention is to provide a fastening device that is capable of being used for both metal and wood bed frames and said device being also capable of use on either square or round bed posts.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is. a perspective view of my improved fastening device in position on a bed post, and showing parts of the side and end rails associated with said device.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the part of the fastening device that is secure-d to the side rail of the bed.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the part of the device that is secured to the bed post.

Figure 4 is an elevational View of the fastening device in position on a bed post, and showing the side rail in a reverse position to that seen in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the upper inner corner of the member that is secured to the bed post, and showing the same formed so as to be applied to a round bed post.

Figures 6 and 7 are plan views of the blanks or sections of material from which the side rail receiving member of the device blanks or sections of material from whicht-he bed post engaging member of the device is formed.

Figure 11 is a plan view of the end portion of the blank for forming an end rail be tween the corner posts.

Figure 12 is a horizontal section taken on the line 12-12 of Figure 1.

Figure 13 is a horizontal section taken on the line 1313 of Figure 1.

Figure 14 is a vertical section taken on the line 14-14 of Figure 1.

Figure 15 is a plan view of a modified form of my improved fastening device."

Flgure 16 is a plan view of a further modified form of the device.

Figure 17 is a plan view of the bed post engaging member forming a part of the rlnodified construction illustrated in Figure Figure 18 is a plan view of the side rail of the engaging member that forms a part of the modified construction illustrated in Figure 16.

Figure 19 is a perspective view of the side rail engaging member forming a part of the modified construction illustrated in Figure 16.

Figure is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 202O of Figure 16.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a practical embodiment of my invention, A designates the corner post of a bed frame, B the side rail which is preferably constructed from commercially rolled angle iron stock, and C the end rail that is arranged between the corner posts A and which is also preferably formed from angle iron stock,

The bed post engaging member of my improved fastening device, which is illustrated in Figures 3 and 8 to 10 inclusive, is preferably constructed from suitable sheet metal that is cut with suitable dies and bent to proper form, although in some instances it may be found desirable to cast the receiving member of the device in a single piece.

The blank which forms the main body portion of the bed post engaging structure is shown in Figure 8 and comprises a substantially rectangular section of sheet metal,

the central'por-t-ion 10 of which constitutes the back wall of the structure, the side portions 11 of the sectional material being bent forwardly along the'dotted linese-n to form side walls which occupy positions parallel with each other and substantially at right angles to the. plane occupied by the back wall 10. The end portions of the backwall. 10 extend slightly beyondthe ends the rear portions o1. the-side walls 11 and are secured theretoin. any suitable manner, preferablyv by means-otrivets or bybeing spot welded. V

Formed integral with; the lower portion 0'? one of the side walls 11 is asubstantially rectangular wingll, which'when the parts are bentto proper form,.spans the space between the lower: frontportions' of the side Walls 11. The upper portion 15 of said wing is bent downwardly into a horizontal plane so that it occupies a position between the side walls 11- to therear of the. upper edge of the portion 14:. Wing portions 14. and 15 are provided on' their: outer edges with extendingsections 16, which when the parts are bent to proper form, are positioned directly against the inner face of the sidewall opposite the: wall to which the wing sect-ion 141' is secured, and said sections 16' may be secured to said opposite wall in any suitable manner, preferably by rivets or by: being spot welded.

.Formed through. the lower" portions ol g said walls 11. and preferably just beyonc and below the inner edge 01. the horizontally disposed member 15 are vertically d1,

posed. slots 17 Arranged iii the rear portion. of th housing comprising the walls 10 and 11 and. the parts formed integral therewith is a fillerinember which is formed front a sheet metal blank, the outline of. which is illus trated in Figure 9. The blank is substantially rectangular inform and comprises a centrally arranged section 18, the side portions of which are bent tliorwardly to form substantially parallel walls-19 and the central portions-of said members 19 are bent inwardly toward each other to form vertically disposed flanges 20 that are parallel with the main body portion 18 of the tiller member, and the upper and lower ends of saidflanges20 are bent rearwardly to; form inclined ears 21', the inner edges: of which bear directly againstthe inner faceof the. walls 19. This filler member is positioned said section isa ton ue which when the parts are properly assembled, extends through the slots 17, and the end portion 24 of said tongue being bent against the outer face of. one of the side walls 11.

That portion. of. the body 22 of sectional material above the tongue 23 isbcnt downwardly into a horizontal plane with its inner edge positioned immediately aga nst one of the side walls. 11, and thus the main body portion of the section 22 forms angle bracketthat projects laterally from the lower portion of one of the side walls oi the post engaging. housing and provides a-firni.andrsubstantial'seat for the end portion. of the end rail. The post engag ing member of: my improved device is securedto-the post in any suitable'inanner, preferably by. meansofrivets or bolts which pass through the parts 10 and 18 and through suitably located apertures in the post. i

The endv rail- Cor therail that forms a permanent connection between the bed posts ispreferably in the form of an angle, the end portions of whichrestdirectly upon and are secured'to the body. portions 22 that project outwardly from the inner walls 11 of thepostengaging. members, and the ends of the vertical flange ofsaid angle rails C are bent. forwardly asdesignated by 25 and lie directly against and are secured to inner side Walls-11 of the post engaging members, as illustrated in Figure 1. Portions of the side walls 11 are pressed outwardly to form on the. inner face of said side walls vertically disposed channels 26, and which later are adapted to receive corresponding ribs that are formed on the sides of the side rail engaging member that is positioned within the post engaging member. The side rail engaging member, as illustrated in Figure 2, is formed from blank sections of material having theoutline as illustrated 111. Figures 6 and 7. The principalmember comprisesa substantially rectangular section of material 27 having its side portions bent outwardly at right/angles to form substantially parallel side walls 28, and. formed integral with the centralportionsof theside wall 28 are extensions 29 on the edges of which immediately adjacent to said side walls 28 are formed lugs 30.

Formed on the upper edge of one of the extensions 29 is a flange 31 which when the parts are properly shaped bridges the space between the upper edges of the extensions 29 and a corresponding fiange32 is formed on the lower edge of the opposite extension and is bent into a horizontal plane to bridge the space between the lower edges of said extensions 29. The other member of the rail engaging part of the fastening device comprises a substantially rectangular section of material 33 that is bent along an intermediate line to form a horizontally disposed plate and a vertically disposed plate, and when the parts are properly assembled the horizontal plate is positioned immediately over and is secured to the upper section 31 and the vertical plate of said member 33 occupies a position directly against the inner face of one of the side walls 28 and its extensions 29. The angular parts of the member 33 project a substantial distance beyond the ends of the extensions 29, thereby providing ample bearing for the end of the side rail B, and which later may be secured to member 33 in any suitable manner, preferably by means of rivets or by being spot welded. The member 33 may constitute the end of the rail B.

Portions of the side walls 28 are presented outwardly to form vertically disposed ribs 34, and which latter are adapted to slide vertically within the grooves 26 formed in the side walls 11.

When the post engaging member of my improved device is applied to a square post or a round post having a slight bearing face, the rear wall 10 is made straight, as illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 12, but when said member is directly applied to a round post the rear wall or plate is made concave in horizontal section, as illustrated in Figure 5.

In assembling the parts of my, improved fastening device, the lower end of the side rail engaging member is inserted between the side walls 11 of the post engaging memher and moved downwardly until the web or plate 32 rests directly upon the horizontally disposed web or plate 15, and when so positioned the lower pair of lugs 30 engage directly in front of the transverse web or extension 23 that passes through and between the slots 47 and by inclining the outer edges of the side walls or plates 28, said edges will bear against the rear face of the transverse member 23, thereby tending to draw the rail engaging member toward the post engaging member as the parts are brought together to connect the side rails to the corner post.

During the vertical movement of the rail engaging member in the post engaging member, the ribs 34 slide downwardly through the grooves 26 so that when said rail engag ing member is moved downwardly to its limit of movement, is very firmly seated in said post engaging member and the parts will be retained in interlocked relation until the side rail B is moved vertical to disengage the members carried by its ends from the post engaging members of the device.

Inasmuch as the upper and lower ends of the rail engaging members are identical in construction, the side rail may be inverted and its ends firmly secured to the post engaging members, thus providing a construction which permits the side rail B to be positioned with its horizontal flange projecting inwardly from the upper side of the rail, as illustrated in Figure 1, or on inverting the rail and turning it end for end to project inwardly from the lower side of the rail, as illustrated in Figure 4. This arrangement permits the side rails to be positioned so as to'receive various forms of spring supporting frames and likewise it permits woven wire fabric being secured to the inner edgesof the inwardly presented flanges of the side rails, thereby producing what is commonly known as a three piece bed.

In the modified construction illustrated in Figure 15, the side walls 11 may be inclined so that they converge toward their outer ends, thereby forming a dove-tail pocket which receives the correspondingly shaped member of the fastening device carried by the end of the side rail. This construction minimizes the movement of the side rails away from the corner posts.

In the modified construction illustrated in Figures 16 to 20 inclusive, the post engaging member which is formed from suitable sheet metal comprises a pair of side walls 35, a rear wall 36, a lower front wall portion 37 and a short horizontally disposed flange 33 that projects inwardly from the upper portion of said lower front wall. Arranged on the inner face of the rear wall 35 is a pair of plates 39 which abut face to face and one of which is narrower than the other with one edge spaced from the outer edge of the other to form a narrow vertically disposed slot or channel 40.

Secured to one of the side walls 35 is an outwardly projecting angle bracket 41, and depending from the rear portion of the horizontal ridge of said bracket is a proj eeting flange 42 that extends through a corresponding slot in said wall 35 and said flange terminating a short distance inwardly from said side wall. The side rail engaging member of this form of the device and which is illustrated in Figures 18 and 19, is preferably formed from suitable sheet metal and comprises a top plate 43 having at one end an extension 44, a bottom plate 45, and side walls 46 and 47.

Formed on one side of the top plate 43 adjacent to the extensions 44 thereof is an angular slot 4 8 which when the parts are properly assembledq'eceives a vertically disposed flange 49 that: projects inwardly fromopposite directions from its center and:

which flange is adapted to engage iii-slot ll) when the parts of the fastening; devi e arj properly assembled. The extension id is adapted to be secured directly to the side rail'oi" the bed frame, or may constitute the end portion'o'f a side rail, and thus the ends oi said side rail may be firmly secured to the post engaging member 01": tne device, and the eonsti'ruetionv of the parts-of the'device that are applied to the side rail'is such that the latter can be reversed in position so that the horizontally disposed flange may be upwardly or downwardly presented.

Thus it willqbe seen that l have provided a relatively simple and practical form of fastening device that is adapted for use in 1 firmly securing the ends of the side railsiof a bed to the corner posts, and which fastening device may be easily and cheaply'produced and the use of said device entirely eliminating extraneousv devices, such as screws,- bolts and the like. It will be readily understood that minor changes inthe size, form and construction of the" various parts ol'iny improved bed rail fastening device may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing :troinithe spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. lin a bedrail fastening device, a post engaginginemberincluding a pair of: spaced Side walls, a transversely disposed web arranged between the lower portions of said side walls, and a reversible rail. engaging member adapted to be positioned between said side walls and provided with notcl'ies on its upper and lower sideswhieh are adapted to receive saidtransversely disposed web.

2. In a bedrail fastening device, housingadapted to be secured to.a; bed post, a, transversely disposed web arranged. in the lower portion of said housing, a support within the housing in front" of said web,

and a rail engaging member. adaptedto 'en ter said housingfand rest onsard support and providedon its upper side and. underside witlrpro eeting portionsthatare adapt.-

ed to extend astride'; the transversely dis.

posed web.

In a bed rail-fastening dev ice, a hous- 1 ingadapted to be secured to'a bedpost; said housing having openings in front and its top open, there being vertically disposed grooves formed in the inner face of" the side walls of said h0using,fand aside rail:

opening at its lront and at its top, 'saidside walls being formed with verticalinwardly opening grooves, a bracket extending inwardly from the lower portion of said side walls -forming a side rail support, a, trans verse web spaced rearwardly of said bracket, a side rail, an engaging memberon saidside rail having proj eetions extending from the opposite sides thereof, either of. which may extend rearwardly of said web, vertical ribs on said projections engageable with the grooves, lugs spaced from: said: projections adapted to ex "end in frontofsaid web.

5. In a bed rail fastening device, a housing adapted to be secured to a bedipost, said housing being formed with side walls and opening at its front and at its'top, a bracket projecting from the lower portion of said housing. forming a side rail support, a side rail, an engaging n'ieniber on said side rail having projections extending from theop positesides thereof either of'which may extend rearwardly oli said bracket, a vertical rib on saidengaging member andja vertical chanuelon said housing to receive said rib.

ALEXANDER S. PUTNAM. 

